Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-06-22
SENIOR CASTELAR,.
PEN Picture of the Famous Spanish Orator.
Pub1icist and Statesman.


rope as really the most complete ex-
preston of Spanish eloquence. He
carries his worship of form almost to
idolatry; his eloquence is music, his
diction the slave of his ear. He says
or does not say a thing; Or rather, he
says it better in one sense than in an
other, according as it rounds or does
not round period. He has harmony
in his mind; he follows, obeys it, and
sarifces to it all that offends. His pc
RODS are strophes; it is necessary to
hear in order to believe that human
language without poetic measure can
thus approach the harmony of poesy
and of song. He is more the artist
than the politician; he has not only the
genius but the heart of the artist-the
heart of child, incapable of enmity
or of malice. In all his speeches there
is not to be found an abusive epithet;
in the Cortes he has never pro-
voked a serious personal encoun-
ter; has never recourse to satire,
nor ever makes use of irony,
into his most violent philippics he never
infuses a drop of gall; and this is evil
dence of the fact that Republican, an
opponent of every ministry, journal
istic gladiator, the perpetual accuser of
whomsoever holds power and of all who
are not fanatical for liberty, he has
made himself hated by no one. And
with all this, his speeches are enjoyed
and never feared; his language is too
beautiful to be terrible, his character
too ingenious for him to exercise po-
litical influence. He does not know
how to fence, to plot, to trim his sails
he is fitted only to please and to shine.
His eloquence when greatest is tender;
his most beautiful discourses draw
tears. For him the chamber is the
alter; like a political improvisation, in
order to have full and calm inspira-
ton, he must speak at certain hour,
upon a determined point and with an
allotted time of liberty to himself. For
this reason, the day on which he is to
speak he has an understanding with
turn will come when the galleries are
most crowded and all the deputies are
in their places, his own paper an
nouncing his speech the evening
previous, in order that ladies may
be able to provide themselves with
tickets. He has need of this excite
ment Before speaking he is uneasy
and can not remain still for an instant.
He enters the Chamber, leaves it, re-
enters, turns to 90 out, takes the round
of the corridors and library, where he
turns over the leaves of a volume-in
word, he is in fever of excitement.
It seems to him as if he could not utter
syllable-that he must excite ridicule
and be Kissed. In his mind no longer
remains single lucid idea of his
speech; every thing is confused; every
thing forgotten. How is your pulse!''
his friends inquire of him, with
smile. The supreme moment arrived,
he springs to the floor, with head bent,
pale and trembling, like a criminal
about to be executed, resigned to lose
in single moment the glory acquired
through so many years and with such
indefatigable labor. At this instant
an enemy even would compassionate
his condition. He rises, throws rapid
glance around him and speaks "Sena-
torst He is safe; his courage is re-
stored to him; his brains is again I'M
clouded! his speech rearranges itself in
his mind like long forgotten melody.
The president, the Cortes, the galleries
disappear; he sees only his gestures;
hears only his own voice; feels but the
irresistible flame that enkindles the
force of his own matchless eloquence. 1t
is beautiful to hear him say of himself:
81 do not see the walls of the apart
ment, even. I behold distant lands
and peoples which L have never seen
before" He speaks for hours together,
and not Deputy leaves the hall, not a
voice interrupts, not a movement dis
tracts him. Not even when he violates
Parliamentary rules has the president
the courage to interrupt him. Clad in
robes of dazzling whiteness and
crowned with roses, he portrays at will
the image of the Republic; and mon
archists do not venture to protest, for,
thus arrayed they even find her beauti-
full. CASTELAR, is lord of the assembly.
He flashes and Eliminates, scintillates
and beams like feu artifce; he pro-
vokes smile or he calls forth enthusi-
astic shouts, ending in the midst of an
outburst of applause, and vanishing
from the Chamber with his head in the
clouds. Such is this famous CASTELAR,,
professor of history in the University,
most prolific writer on politics, art
and religion, a publicist who draws
from American journals ten thousand
dollars yearly; an academician, unani-
mously elected by the Spanish Acad-
envy, pointed out in thoroughfares,
feted by the populace, loved by even
his opponents, a young man, polished,
generous, a little vain and a favorite
of fortune. Ed1Cards A771ices.